Cities in West, Ohio vying for 2016 GOP convention

WASHINGTON (AP) - Three cities in the West and three in Ohio are among the eight finalists to host the Republicans' presidential nominating convention in 2016.

Party leaders will consider the Republican National Committee's list of potential host cities in the coming months.

The cities are Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Kansas City, Mo., and three in Ohio - Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.

The finalists largely represent swing states that will help decide the 2016 presidential election.

The RNC already is considering several changes to its presidential selection process. GOP officials expect to hold their convention in the early summer of 2016, roughly two months sooner than has become the norm.